Leucophyllum plant named ‘MSWNRascon’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Leucophyllum  plant named ‘MSWNRascon’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; relatively short internodes; freely branching habit; obovate to spatulate-shaped leaves covered with dense silvery pubescence; freely flowering habit with flowers densely clustered; relatively large bright purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Leucophyllum x hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MSWNRascon’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR & APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/orApplicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior artexception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior tothe filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filingdate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofLeucophyllum plant, botanically known as Leucophyllum x hybrida andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘MSWNRascon’.

The new Leucophyllum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Cochise, Ariz. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new uniform and freely floweringLeucophyllum plants with attractive flower coloration.

The new Leucophyllum plant originated from an open-pollination in July,2011, in Cochise, Ariz. of Leucophyllum x hybrida ‘Convent’, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection ofLeucophyllum x hybrida as the male, or pollen, parent. The newLeucophyllum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedopen-pollination in a controlled environment in Cochise, Ariz. in July,2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Leucophyllum plant by terminalvegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Glendale, Ariz. sinceSep. 20, 2018, has shown that the unique features of this newLeucophyllum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Leucophyllum have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘MSWNRascon’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘MSWNRascon’ as a new and distinct Leucophyllumplant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.    -   3. Relatively short internodes.    -   4. Freely branching habit.    -   5. Obovate to spatulate-shaped leaves covered with dense silvery        pubescence.    -   6. Freely flowering habit with flowers densely clustered.    -   7. Relatively large bright purple-colored flowers.    -   8. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Leucophyllum differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent, ‘Convent’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Leucophyllum are more compact and denser        than plants of ‘Convent’.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Leucophyllum are more densely        clustered than flowers of plants of ‘Convent’.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Leucophyllum are purple in color        whereas flowers of plants of ‘Convent’ are magenta in color.

Plants of the new Leucophyllum can be compared to plants of Leucophyllumfrutescens ‘Green Cloud’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons,plants of the new Leucophyllum differ primarily from plants of ‘GreenCloud’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Leucophyllum are more compact and denser        than plants of ‘Green Cloud’.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Leucophyllum are more densely        clustered than flowers of plants of ‘Green Cloud’.    -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Leucophyllum are silvery in color        whereas leaves of plants of ‘Green Cloud’ are green in color.    -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Leucophyllum are purple in color        whereas flowers of plants of ‘Green Cloud’ are pink in color.

Plants of the new Leucophyllum can also be compared to plants of anunnamed selection of Leucophyllum laevigatum, not patented, commerciallyreferred to as Chichahuan Sage. In side-by-side comparisons, plants ofthe new Leucophyllum differ primarily from plants of the unnamedselection of Leucophyllum laevigatum in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Leucophyllum are more compact, denser and        more uniform than plants of the unnamed selection of        Leucophyllum laevigatum.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Leucophyllum are more densely        clustered than flowers of plants of the unnamed selection of        Leucophyllum laevigatum.    -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Leucophyllum are silvery in color        whereas leaves of plants of the unnamed selection of        Leucophyllum laevigatum are light green in color.    -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Leucophyllum are purple in color        whereas flowers of plants of the unnamed selection of        Leucophyllum laevigatum are light lavender in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Leucophyllum plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Leucophyllum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view ofa typical flowering plant of ‘MSWNRascon’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of atypical flowering plant of ‘MSWNRascon’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the spring and summer inone-gallon containers in outdoor nurseries in Glendale, Ariz. and FortWorth, Tex. and under cultural practices typical of commercialLeucophyllum production. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures ranged from 10° C. to 47.8° C. and night temperaturesranged from 1° C. to 32.2° C. Plants were two years old when thephotographs and description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Leucophyllum x hybrida ‘MSWNRascon’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Leucophyllum x hybrida ‘Convent’,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Leucophyllum x            hybrida, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 15 days at soil            temperatures about 27° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 30 days at soil            temperatures about 22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 75 days            at soil temperatures about 27° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 120 days            at soil temperatures about 22° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white to light brown in color, actual color of the roots is            dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and            physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; upright to            outwardly spreading plant habit; moderately vigorous growth            habit and moderate growth rate; freely branching habit with            lateral branches potentially developing at every node;            relatively dense appearance.        -   Plant height.—About 49 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 47 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 42 cm.        -   Diameter, proximally.—About 5.5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.25 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong; flexible when developing.        -   Aspect.—Primary stems, mostly upright; lateral branches            about 45° to 55° from primary stein axis.        -   Texture and luster.—Densely pubescent, lanate; matte; older            stems, woody.        -   Color, developing.—Close to 143A; pubescence, close to 193A.        -   Color, developed.—Close to 143A; pubescence, close to 193A            to 193B; when woody, close to 199B to 199C without            pubescence.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 2.3 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Obovate to spatulate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse to acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate to attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire, not undulate.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Densely            pubescent, lanate; matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 191A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 191B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Slightly darker than 191A;            venation, slightly darker than 191A. Fully expanded leaves,            lower surface: Slightly lighter than 191A; midvein, close to            193A to 193B; lateral venation, slightly lighter than 191A.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 3 mm to 4 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture and luster: Densely            pubescent, lanate; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to            191A. Color, lower surface: Close to between 192A and 193A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers with            five fused petals; flowers axillary and densely clustered;            flowers face mostly outwardly; freely flowering habit with            single flowers potentially developing at every axil during            the flowering season.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously in the            mid to late summer and early autumn in northern Texas.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about two to three days on            the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower size.—About 2.2 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 1.9 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 5 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 1.6 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter, proximally.—About 2 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 4.5 mm.            Shape: Obovate. Texture and luster: Petals, smooth, glabrous            and matte; sepals, densely pubescent and matte. Color: Close            to 144A; pubescence, close to 193A to 193B.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Five fused petals in a single whorl;            petal lobes are roughly horizontal to the flower tube; petal            lobes reflexing with development. Petal lobe length: About            1 cm. Petal lobe width: About 7.5 mm. Petal lobe shape:            Spatulate with praemorse apex. Petal lobe margin: Entire;            slightly undulate. Petal lobe texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly rugose; matte.            Throat, texture and luster: Proximally, smooth, glabrous and            distally, fine pubescence; matte. Tube, texture and luster:            Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, petal lobes: When opening,            upper surface: Close to 77A. When opening, lower surface:            Close to 77B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 77B;            venation, close to 77B; color becoming closer to 77A with            development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 77B to            77C; venation, close to 77B to 77C; color does not change            with development. Color, throat: Distally, close to 77B            fading proximally to close to NN155D with spots, close to            163A; venation, similar to lamina colors. Color, tube: Close            to NN155D; spots from upper surface are visible; venation,            similar to lamina colors.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Campanulate calyx with five to six            sepals in a single whorl fused at the base. Calyx length:            About 5 mm. Calyx diameter: About 3 mm. Sepal length: About            5 mm. Sepal width, free part: About 1.5 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture and            luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.            Texture and luster, lower surface: Densely pubescent; matte.            Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close            to 144A. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close            to 144A; pubescence, close to between 193A to 193B and 194A            to 194B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 mm to 2.5 mm. Diameter: About            1 mm. Angle: About 45° to 55° from stein axis. Strength:            Strong, flexible. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent;            matte. Color: Close to between 193A and 194A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Four to five per            flower. Filament length: About 1 cm. Filament color: Close            to NN155D. Anther size: About 1.5 mm by 1 mm. Anther shape:            Oblong. Anther color: Close to 161A. Pollen amount: None            observed. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length:            About 1.5 cm. Style length: About 1.2 cm. Style color: Close            to NN155D variably tinged with close to 70A. Stigma            diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color:            Close to 70A. Ovary color: Distally, close to 70A and            proximally, close to 144A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Leucophyllum.-   Pathogen resistance: To date, plants of the new Leucophyllum have    not been observed to be resistant to pathogens common to    Leucanthemum plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Leucophyllum have been    observed to have good garden performance, to tolerate drought, arid    conditions and temperatures ranging from −12.2° C. to 47.8° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Leucophyllum plant named‘MSWNRascon’ as illustrated and described.